On January 28, 2017 CHF Friends joined many area Chinese organizations, among them Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM) and Minnesota International Chinese School (MICS), and Mall of America (MOA) in presenting a large scale Chinese New Year celebration at the MOA. A bamboo orchestra came from China to celebrate the happy occasion in the Rotunda. A large crowd gathered throughout all the floors of the Rotuda to watch the orchestra and many other cultural entertainments by many Chinese organizations.

CHF Friends took over the new Atrium in the north wing of the MOA and organized many local organizations to present over 40 hands-on activities for children and adults. The lion dance, always presented by the David Fong Lions Team, was always a beloved and entertaining opening event. For this occasion, MOA pioneered a new system to hang large Chinese lanterns from the ceiling.

Sears Court was filled with food venders from different regions of China and crowds enjoyed the fun opportunity to sample different foods in one location. This expanded daylong celebration drew a record crowd to the Mall on one of the coldest days in a Minnesota winter.